Dolly conveyer and hold-down



May 15, 1951 D. CALDEMEYER 2,553,357

DOLLY CONVEYER AND HOLD-DOWN Filed Sept. 16, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 l l l 1 I l l I I l l l May 15, 1951 D. F. CALDEMEYER DOLLY CONVEYER AND HOLD-DOWN 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 16,- 1946 May 15, 1951 D. F. CALDEM EYER DOLLY CONVEYER AND HOLD-DOWN s Sheets-Sheet s Filed Sept. 16, 194 5 Patented May 15, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DOLLY CONVEYER AND HOLD-DOWN Daniel F. Caldemeyer, Evansville, Ind.

Application September 16, 1946, Serial No. 697,183

1 Claim.

In the manufacture of furniture during the past, parts of a piece of furniture would be milled, sanded and the like, and subsequently would be assembled. This often necessitated the assembly of portions of the completed article in one part of the factory, then moving that completed portion to another part of the factory for continuing Work.

As is common practice today in many industries, it has been found that in the manufacture of furniture, assembly line principles can be followed. There have been assembly line proposals made, and many of these have been satisfactorily utilized. I have developed a dolly and dolly holddown so that the same could be utilized in conjunction with an assembly line principle of furniture manufacture. Broadly speaking, the dolly which I utilize is relatively similar to furniture dollies which have been utilized in the past to transport partly assembled furniture units to other points in the factory for continuing assembly of the piece of furniture being produced.

While assembled pieces of furniture, such as davenports and chairs are being upholstered, it has been found that it is desirable to support the furniture on a workbench so that it may be held in a convenient position to be worked on.

An object of my invention is to provide a dolly which is designed to provide a support for a piece of furniture being assembled or upholstered.

A further object is to provide a dolly equipped to be drawn along a predetermined path by an endless conveyor so that the dolly will pass the necessary operation stations of a factory while the furniture carried thereby is being worked upon.

A further object is to provide a dolly adapted to be drawn along a predetermined path and also adapted to be held against any tilting which might result during the manufacture of the furniture mounted thereon or While a piece of furniture is being upholstered.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a dolly which may be conveyed in a desired direction and held down relative to the base support thereof to prevent inadvertent tipping.

A further object is to provide a track on which a dolly may be conveyed, the track also providing a channel in which an endless conveyor is guided, and which endless conveyor carries lugs adapted to engage the dolly to advance the same and/or prevent its retardation.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view;

Fig. 2 is a view in end elevation;

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal cross-section on the line 4-4 of Fig.3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-section through the dolly hold-down and the conveyor track;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. '7 is a plan View of a modified form of dolly;

Fig. 8 is a view in end elevation of the modified form of dolly;

Fig. 9 is a vertical cross-section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a shelf adapted to be held between the vertical legs of the modified form of dolly.

For ease of understanding, particular reference to Figs. 1 and 2 will first be made. It is thought that the dolly which is shown in its normal construction may be better understood by a particular study of these two figures which also disclose the manner in which the dolly is positioned to be moved in a predetermined direction and held by the guiding track so that the dolly will not become accidentally tipped over as work is being done upon furniture supported and being conveyed thereby.

The dolly is made of suitable angle-iron material and is provided with angle-irons 2 and 13, which are welded, riveted or otherwise secured together at approximately right-angles. These angle-irons are positioned so that one side of each angle-iron is approximately horizontal, while the other is approximately vertical. The angle-irons are preferably secured together at a point rela tively close to the ends of the angle-irons 2, and suitably spaced from the ends of the angle-irons 4. I likewise attach vertically extending angleirons B by Welding, bolting or riveting them at an end thereof, to either the angle-iron 2 or 4. or both. At the upper extremities of the vertically positioned angle-irons 6 I similarly attach by bolting, welding or the like, an angle-iron B which forms a binding between the vertical angle-irons 6. These are positioned at an angle of approximately to the direction of the angle-irons 2.

For convenience and stability, additional angleirons ID are welded, bolted or otherwise secured to the vertical angle-irons 6, thereby providing support for a shelf which may be inserted to rest on flanges of the angle-irons l0 approximately is provided.

Approximately at the ends of the angle-irons .2, I attach suitable conventionally constructed casters 12, there being one caster mounted at each corner of the assembled dolly, so that the dolly may be conveniently rolled from place to place along the floor of the factory in which it is used.

Secured to one flange of the angle-irons 2, I attach an especially constructed angle-iron or cleat M, which is substantially U-shaped in crosssection, and which is adapted to extend below the bottom surface of the angle-irons 2, providing a flange spaced slightly beneath the bottom flange thereof.

In arranging factory space for use of my abovedescribed dolly, I provide a track constructed of assembled angle-irons, and as better disclosed in detail in the enlarged Fig. 5. This track is adapted to be suitably secured to the factory floor, and to extend upwardly therefrom a sufflcient height so that when a dolly is resting thereon its casters l2 will be raised above the floor surface. In this construction, a pair of angle-irons 2B are positioned with one flange thereof lying on a factory floor and suitably attached thereto to prevent their being moved from a predetermined position. These angle-irons 2B are provided with drilled holes in the flange thereof rising from the floor so that a bolt may be passed therethrough in order to properly assemble the additional parts of the thug supported and constructed track. The bolts 22 adapted to be utilized for this purpose pass through first one flange of the angle-iron 2G, subsequently an inverted angle-iron 25, two legs of an inverted, substan-' tially U-shaped spacer bar 26, and an angle-iron whose flange 28 is positioned against the vertical flange of the previously positioned angle-iron Z6, and is subsequently bolted to the opposite side of the vertical flange on the previously positioned angle-iron 29 by a nut 38.

The track thus constructed provides a surface on which a dolly may be placed and be advanced by the forward motion of' an endless chain. The flange 32, comprising the flange which is perpendicular to the flange 28 above referred to, extends approximately parallel to the floor on which the angle-irons are supported, thereby forming a track.

The flange 32 is adapted to support an endless conveyor chain, most links of which are conventional in form, but which chain is provided at intervals with special links adapted to extend.

over to return. In returning, the endless chain will be supported on the upper surface of the 4 special link 42 passing downwardly beyond the edge of the flange.

The track on which the dolly is adapted to be supported and over which it will be conveyed by the endless conveyor described above is built up by assembling suitable angle irons and an inverted U-shaped spacer-bar. It will be understood as it has been described above that the main supporting angle-irons 20 may be suitably secured to the factory floor; and to the flanges thereof extending from the factory floor, additional angle-irons and a spacer bar are secured so that the angle-iron 24 will be positioned having one flange thereof extending outwardly from a vertical flange of the angle-iron 20. This flange of the angle-iron 2% is adapted to be positioned so that it will be inserted within the specially formed U-shaped angle-iron M which is attached to the under surface or horizontal flange of the angle iron 2, forming a part of the dolly. In constructing the track, an additional angle-iron is provided, having flanges 22 and 32, and is positioned as described above between the two vertical flanges of the two angle-irons 29, forming the main support of the track. In this manner, the flange 32 will extend inwardly a predetermined distance between the vertical flanges of the angleirons 28, providing a shelf on which the endless chain conveyor may ride. This operation of the endless chain conveyor, While riding on the flange 32, is returning (in the direction opposite to the direction in which the dolly is being conveyed).

Riding on the inverted U-shaped spacer bar it,

the same endless conveyor chain is supported in its advancing position with the special link 42 ex tending upwardly above the surface of the chain and in position to engage the angle-iron 2 of the dolly.

By this construction, it may be readily seen, by an inspection of Fig. 2, and more particularly Figs. 5 and 6, that the link 42 will engage angleiron 2 of the dolly to advance that angle-iron and the assembled dolly as the endless chain conveyor is advanced, riding on the inverted U- shaped spacer bar 26. As more clearly disclosed in Fig. 6, it will be seen that an additional link 42 is positioned slightly spaced apart from the link 42 which is adapted to engage and advance the angle-iron 2. This link Q2 is provided and adapted to be in close proximity to one flange of the angle-iron 2 to prevent that angle-iron and the dolly from being advanced relative to the endless chain.

It will be understood that the angle-irons 2 will rest upon the conveyor chain and/or the uppermost edge of the flange 28 and the angle-iron 24, thereby supporting the dolly on the assembled track. It will be understood that although one side of the track is disclosed in the enlarged Fig. 5, the two tracks necessary will be constructed in reverse order, as disclosed clearly in Fig. 2. Obviously, the purpose of this is that the angleiron 24 will extend within the U-shaped angleiron or cleat I from opposite sides on the two tracks utilized. In this manner, the dolly thus positioned on the tracks cannot be inadvertently pushed laterally off the tracks, nor can it be tilted relative to the tracks because the flange of the angle-iron 2 3 will become engaged in the U-shaped cleat Hi, thus holding the dolly in its horizontal position approximately parallel with the surface of the two tracks. It will be seen from Fig. 2 that while the dolly is supported on the track in a position to'be advanced by the horizontally positioned flange or track 32, the 7 endless chain conveyor that it is supported by the 5 tracks at a height above the factory floor sufiicient to raise the casters l2 to be out of contact therewith.

While the modified form of dolly which is disclosed in Figs. 7 to 9 inclusive is substantially identical with the dolly above-described, it is made in slightly differing forms and proportions, it being adapted to support a different type of furniture being constructed. For example, one form of dolly might be necessary to support a davenport being constructed, whereas a slightly modified form of dolly might be necessary for the support of an arm-chair.

Fig. 10 is included to illustrate the manner in which a piece of plywood, for example, or other suitable sheet material, can be out to fit and be held Without being permitted to slide on the angle-irons I0 to form a convenient shelf or support for materials utilized during the furniture construction.

It will be understood that the dolly abovedescribed may be constructed in the frame-like manner as disclosed in the drawings or it may be provided with solid platforms or table tops if desired. When used for the purpose of holding and conveying davenports, chairs and the like while they are being upholstered, it has been generally found that an open or frame-like structure is more desirable and may be more satisfactorily utilized as a work-bench support during the upholstering process.

While I have designed my dolly and dolly holddown for use primarily in connection with the matter of applying upholstery to furniture, it will be understood that the apparatus may be used for other purposes also. For example, the dollies disclosed in the drawings are particularly adapted to propely support heavy chairs and/or davenports in convenient positions for the application of upholstery thereto. It will be obvious to one skilled in the art that modified dollies may be provided, yet having the same holddown structure, for assembly-line usage in connection with other manufactures. It is presently contemplated that a modified dolly may be utilized for conveying refrigerator boxes while they are being constructed.

I claim:

In a conveyor for a dolly, a track consisting of a pair of angle-irons, an inverted U-shaped spacer bar secured to and between the said angleirons to hold said angle-irons spaced apart, a second set of angle-irons secured between the first mentioned angle-irons and the said spacer bar, the said second mentioned angle-irons each having a flange in approximately parallel relationship to the said inverted U-shaped spacer bar, and a conveyor chain adapted to be supported by the said inverted U-shaped spacer bar and one angle-iron flange in parallel relation thereto.

DANIEL F. CALDEMEYER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,291,145 Reno Jan. 14, 1919 1,475,797 Conrad Nov. 27, 1923 1,518,431 Hurst Dec. 9, 1924 1,603,170 Vaszin Oct. 12, 1926 1,720,113 Argabrite July 9, 1929 1,766,225 Moon June 24, 1930 1,814,262 Redford July 14, 1931 1,889,274 Dahms Nov. 29, 1932 2,132,455 Bishop Oct. 11, 1938 

